Tuesday, August 29, 2006

British group The La's is one of rock history's more enigmatic tales. After bursting into fame with the album "The La's", led by the single "There she goes" in 1990, they disappeared even more suddenly. Apparently, this was down to band leader Lee Mavers whose notorious perfectionism so far has forbidden him to release a successor to their masterpiece.

A few live performances in recent years has sparked the hope for new material from this band that very well could be described as the godfathers of 90's brit-pop (Noel Gallagher has expressed his adorance of the group on several occasions).

You can have a short introduction to this stunning band and their album listening to this BBC-feature, narrated by a dude with a thick Irish accent.

Also, check out this appearance from a 1990 tv show. You should be able to get the names of the two songs by spotting the subtle signs in the beginning of each.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Mono are a instrumental post-rock group from Tokyo Japan made up by four members: Tamaki, Takaakira Goto, Yoda and Yasunori Takada

Mono sounds a bit like Instrumental Sigur-Rós and Mogwai. Their music is full of intense emotions, with the highest of highs and the darkest of lows. Their songs build with waves of crashing cymbals over consistant drums, then exploding with hard hitting electric guitars that leave you in awe.

On their way to folding one thousand paper cranes for humanity they released their latest album "You Are There" in late 2005. The album was produced by Steve Albini, famous for his recording techniques and has produced albums for bands such as: Pixies, Breeders, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Smog, Low, Will Oldham and Mogwai (to name a few).

I highly recommend downloading some mp3s and checking this band out for your self!

Friday, August 25, 2006

Mike Stroud and Evan 'E*vax' Mast, better known as "Ratatat" released their second album "Classics" on August 22nd. The album has gotten rave reviews already, contrast to their overlooked self titled album released in 2004.

I'm hard pressed to describe their unique music style, found a very witty description on Blender that I think says it all

Mike and Evan first met at Skidmore College and wrote and recorded the first album in Evan's Brooklyn apartment. They have toured with Interpol, Clinic, The Killers and Mouse on Mars to name a few. I saw Ratatat when they played Airwaves in 2005 and have listened to their first album regularly since then.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Icelandic singer / songwriter / visual artist Baldur, better known as Bela will be releasing his first album internationally later this month.

Bela started out as a guitarist, playing in various bands, with musical styles ranging from death-metal to electro in the Icelandic music scene. He soon began recording his own songs at home and singing them himself (something he never did in the bands). These songs he recorded were kind off a nod off to the music he grew up listening to (before the teenage Metal obsession kicked in).

To me his music has a rich Glasgow influence, remenicent of "Reindeer Section" and "Snow Patrol" which makes sense, since he's been living over there studying music for the past 2 ears and playing vearious clubs. I'd describe Bela's music as well produced guitar melodies and laid back vocals wrapped up in simplicity.

The album "Hole and Corner" will be released through a young Glasgow label, "Say Dirty records" on August 27th.

This one has written 'Must see!!!' all over it. I would really like to know how such a trip would turn out. Although I love Oldham/Billy as an artist, his mass murder-esque looks would rule out ANY chance for me to join him out into the Oregon wilderness. Judging from the trailer, it sure seems like the movie plays a bit on just that.

According to my knowledge, there isn't any information about when or if "Old Joy" will reach Denmark.

Icelander Eberg has been living in the UK studying sound engineering and released his second album "Voff Voff" earlier this year (Icelandic for a dog's bark). BBC's The Blue Room have been playing a track from the album "Love your Bum" relentlessly - and have featured it on their recent compilation. It's all about nappies and wipes apparantly.

The "Voff Voff"album has gotten rave reviews in most publications such as Q Magazine, The Independent, The Times, Music Week.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

PJ Harvey will perform solo in the Royal Danish Opera the 24th of September - and I have a ticket. Sweet. Like her. Go to this nice blog to download a small concert from french radio station France Inter's Black Sessions...

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Quirky british Jim Noir has finally released a full length album "Tower of Love". I've been following this guy since I got my hands on a weird 7" release of "My Patch". The album is everything you would expect and more - simple childlike lyrics that are loaded with humour sung over some of the happyest indie guitars I've ever heard.

For those of you that like to try before you buy, here are a few mp3s for you to download:

Friday, August 11, 2006

Trabant's five members come from very different backgrounds in the Reykjavik music scene: One rap producer with the sailors blood pumping; a death metal guru, a crazy in the head champion DJ; a preachers son and the former boyband star. Together, all these influences explode in the mighty Trabant.

For the past nine years in various guises, Trabant have worked in each others pockets endlessly circulating the Reykjavik music scene.

Trabant's latest album "Emotional" will be released soon on Southern Fried Records. Check out the video for their single "One" below.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Don't get your information wrong. The new Grant Lee Phillips cover-album is great. Top eighties-music stripped for ugly sound and all the good songs magically transformed to beautiful alt. country. I love it...

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

In the latest Uncut Magazine Paul Simon has some comments on the rock icons still going strong. 'The Rolling Stones are incredibly entertaining, but they're not acting their age. They're parodying what they were and that's what people want to see'! Well, I guess he is kind of right. On the other hand he gives credit to artists like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits for still being truely inovative and to Neil Young for being sincere in his anger towards Bush. And damm he is right. I think he could calmly ad Elvis Costello at the list of artist who do not sell out. And the question remains... How about Paul Simon himself?

Buy the re-released Costello albums for only 6.99£ at PlayTake a look at the rich and interesting Neil Young anti-Bush site here. See also preview on a documentary on the Living with War- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tour going on in the states right now and listen to his latest album.Pre-order the new Dylan here. Release the August 28.And good bless mr. Waits for being Tom Waits.

After a month of sun, sun, sun where your time was best spend relaxing at the beach, now the rain is here... But not to worry! These warm, sunny weeks has offered some to some very exciting news on some of our favourite bands.

First of all, Golden Smog - an on-the-side group consisting of members of The Jayhaws, Soul Asylum and Wilco - has released Another Fine Day this week.

This means that Jeff Tweedy is one busy man these days. Besides the Golden Smog release, he is also sweating in the studio with his main group Wilco working on their up-coming album, due early 2007.

Meanwhile, the faboulous New Yorkers Interpol is also preparing an up-coming release early next year - despite they admit to having broken up four (!) times.

Last - but far from least - apparently my favourite wild-child, mess-head, hillbilly anarchist Ryan Adams has decided to keep up his manic record release tempo. Following last year's brilliant triology of "Cold Roses", "Jacksonville City Nights" and "29", the geezer is now contemplating another triple-album attack consisting of the tentatively titled "Blackhole", "War and Peace" and "Cardinals" - named after his backing group.

To indicate that he's not completely bullshitting, you can listen to the new tune "France" on his website. Here you can also see up-coming tour dates. So far, no Danish visits but that will hopefully change... Anyway, you have the chance to check out his current live form this friday as his show at Lollapalooza will be shown on a live webcast at 4:30-5:30 PM C.S.T. (that should be 23.30-00.30 Danish time).